That Special Gift, Part 2 – Teacher’s Corner

Teacher’s Corner

The following are writing prompts and discussion topics based on the blog, “That Special Gift, Part 2.” After the prompts we have included suggestions regarding ways to use this blog in your classroom as well as a discussion about why this blog can be a useful tool in your classroom. So, get your students think, pair, sharing and see what develops.

Have you ever played pretend (or watched others play pretend) with younger children? What was that like?

Have you (or anyone you know) had any experience with fear of monsters? What was that like?

What are three jobs you (or someone you know) want to do as an adult? Do you think you (or they) will be ready to do those jobs when the time comes? What should a person do to prepare for those jobs?

NOTE: If you prefer that students not be required to write about or discuss themselves, suggest they respond to the prompts by talking about their experiences with friends or relatives instead of themselves.

Teachers, you can use this blog in classrooms. Here are two ideas about how.

For middle or high school parenting or child development courses:

Use the blog for discussion topics

Require students to research the topics and agree or disagree with what the blog is suggesting.

2. For all courses, especially English Language Arts:

Use the blog for writing prompts for paragraphs, theme papers, journal entries, class starters, etc. Have students read the blog and respond to:

Do you agree with what is being said about kids? Do kids really act, think or feel that way?

Do you agree with what is being said about parents, grandparents, teachers and child caregivers? Do or should they act, think or feel that way?

What would be your advice on this topic?

What was left out of this article?

If you were a parent, would you use any of this information? How?

Why can this blog be a useful teaching tool?

Students that see connections between their coursework and their lives do better in school.

Most students will either be parents one day or have children in their lives that they care about, so the topical information can help them build their knowledge about children and parenting and develop a positive image of the type of parenting they want to do.

The new core literacy standards adopted by most states call for frequent writing in all courses.

Newly developed end-of-course assessments to be used by many states will require that students demonstrate that they can think critically. These prompts help students practice critical thinking.

Newly developed end-of-course assessments to be used by many states will require that students demonstrate that they can analyze what they read. These prompts help students practice analysis.